Swapping a SSL-6 for a STK-S6? Wiring question.

[Synapsys]

Hi everyone,

Got myself a Charvel Pro-Mod DK22 SSS 2PT CM last Christmas.

It cones stock with a Hot Rails bridge / Custom Flat middle / Custom Flat neck.

Really like the tones, but due to the switching, the only position that hums is the neck single, so I am considering swapping it for a Custom Stack.

Would like to keep the other 4 positions hum-free as they come wired stock, but gaining a noiseless neck, since I hate hum.

Can it be done? See the stock switching in the photo, to clear things out.

[Teleplayer]

I'm not sure the pickup route is deep enough to fit a Duncan stack pickup. If you decide to 'make it fit', consider one of the other stack plus for the neck position, maybe the stk-s7.

[Synapsys]

I already own the STK-S7 in another axe; I like the Custom Strat neck, just want it noiseless, and keep the switching positions.

[hamerfan]

Just being curious. Why doesn‘t hum the middle pickup?

[Mincer]

Looks like the middle is never on by itself. This is similar to the HSS wiring I've used with the middle position being the outside 2 pickups (in my case, it is a split humbucker and a rw/rp split STK-S4 for hum cancelling).

[Synapsys]

Thanks for your input, Mincer.

Would I need a RWRP Custom Stack? Are those even available outside the SD Custom Shop?

[Mincer]

If you do a similar wiring, you'd need a rw/rp Custom Stack. They are available as Shop Floor Customs, from any authorized SD dealer, and are cheaper than the Custom Shop.

[Teleplayer]

If your current pickups are hum cancelling in position 4 (neck + middle), it seems that one of them must be RW/RP already. It would be better to confirm which one you will keep in the middle before choosing the new pickup. If one of the SSL6 pickups is RW/RP and you can swap them around, then it wouldn't really matter which polarity the custom stack is, as both possibilities would be covered.

[Synapsys]

Just checked the spec sheet, and the stock neck pickup is indeed RWRP.

I could just swap it with the current middle position SSL-6, and then get the STK-S6 for the neck. But would that (putting the RWRP in the middle) cause any issues when using it with the split Hot Rails in positions 2 and 3 on the switching I posted previously?

[Teleplayer]

Just checked the spec sheet, and the stock neck pickup is indeed RWRP.

I could just swap it with the current middle position SSL-6, and then get the STK-S6 for the neck. But would that (putting the RWRP in the middle) cause any issues when using it with the split Hot Rails in positions 2 and 3 on the switching I posted previously?

Now I checked the image in post #1. You are right. You need the regular SSL-6 in the middle because the hot rails is coil-split in position 2 (Bridge + Middle).

Back to the issue of the routing depth. I found the thread where this came up previously when putting classic stacks in a charvel DK-22.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/forum/the-pickup-lounge/6080652-my-texas-special-dilemma-tone-is-apparently-not-only-about-pickups-advice-needed?p=6084055#post6084055

[ThreeChordWonder]

Can you check the polarities of the two non humbucker pickups you already have and post them up? If you can tell us which one is a "north up" and which a "south up" we may be able to figure out how to use the RWRP neck in the middle and a regular polarity stack in the neck.

Plan B might be to get an El Cheapo no name single coil pickup from eBay and pull the magnets out, use it as a dummy coil under the pickguard somewhere.

[Synapsys]

Thanks for your input, guys.

BTW, routing deeper cavities will not be an issue, if needed.

Just had an idea: what if I don't split the STK-S6? Would I still have noiseless tones in position 3 and 4?

[ThreeChordWonder]

If you arrange the polarities correctly and coil split to leave the right humbucker coil active, you can have hum canceling in all positions except where you have either a regular single coil on its own or two coils of the same polarity.

[Synapsys]

Will have to think about the pros and cons before doing anything, then!

Thank you all for your help!

[Mincer]

This does sound like a really cool noise-free setup!